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Hi,
I'm sorry you're feeling so crappy. Methotrexate does not cause a fever and lupus usually doesn't cause a fever that high - are you sure you don't have the flu? I would call my dr immediately and let them know what's going on with you and get their advice.

Sorry about the delay in answering- my husband was in a car accident this past weekend and I've been busy dealing with that. he's okay but banged up good .

I did not do the loading dose for the arva. I was already taking metho and she just added it to help.

As far as what I would do is a hard question. My doctor feels that you should always treat lupus aggressively- - you don't wait till the damage is done and then try to fix it because lupus can get hard to stop once it starts. If I was having organ involvement I would take the bigger gun drugs but that's just me - you have to do what's right for you.

Hi,
I think I've been on arva for around six months ( I really should write this stuff down cuz I can't remember crap! Lol ) and only experienced stomach issues at first. I found that if I take it at night before I go to bed, it doesn't bother me. Cost wise, I spend $35.00 for a 90 day supply but I have insurance so I don't know the cost straight out would be but I don't think its really high.

I was worried about the hair loss thing because I've already lost so much due to the lupus but haven't had a real problem with that either - so far.
If you have organ involvement, I would think you need something much stronger than either metho, benlysta or Arava. Benlysta isn't used for organ involvement ( I think).

Yes, it's nice to talk with someone who's going through the same thing - well people just don't under how lupus really effects you. I've had people say to me " I know just how you feel! I've had arthritis in my left pinky for years" and I'm thinking "pinky??!! .... How about the whole dang body!" Nope, they just don't get it...sigh....and probably never will.

Feel free to ask any questions- I might not know the answer but you never know without asking!

Hi,
Sorry to hear you have liver involvement - I was hoping it was just a drug you were taking.

I am on Arava right now. I was taking Arava and methotrexate together but had to stop the metho due to liver enzymes elevated. I have not had any problems with side effects on the Arava. It kind of bothered my stomach at first but that seems to have passed.

Can't tell you anything about benlysta but my rheumy keeps wanting me to try it.
The medro shots are really helpful. I feel much better for a few weeks after getting one.

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. The stress must be horrible.

Sometimes the medicine we take for lupus messes with our livers - not the actual lupus. My liver enzymes just recently became elevated and I had to stop the methotrexate. When I stopped, the levels returned to normal.

Lupus can attack the liver - and anything else for that matter - so you need to always make your rheumy appointments regularly to get checked.

Sorry for all the questions, but is there a difference between anti ds dna and dna antibodies, native?? I thought they were the same thing but just got my labs back and saw where both tests were ordered and my native was high. First time I've heard about native dna.

At my rheumy appointments, I am always given a questionnaire that asks, "how long does your joint stiffness last in the morning?" The selection of answers are anywhere between less than 15 minutes to a couple hours. I never know how to answer that question because for me, joint stiffness lasts all day - any time a joint is inactive for 10 minutes or so, it becomes stiff. I feel like I have to break the joints free each time I move - especially the hands and feet. In fact my feet make popping sounds that can be heard across a room. Once I break them free they are fine until I stop moving.

Is this kind of constant stiffness normal for lupus? Whenever I google my symptoms I get RA information. And while I also have Sjogrens and Raynauds, my rheumy hasn't mentioned RA...

I have kind of a odd medical question about bruises. Has anyone out there had a problem with reoccurring bruises? I realize we all bump into things and forget about it and a bruise appears, but I have had a black bruise under my upper right arm - not a area that comes in contact with anything but my body. I will get it and over a few weeks it will fade away and then a month or more will pass with nothing and then it reappears in the EXACT same spot - it's been doing this for around 2 years or so.

I've racked my brain trying to figure out how I can hurt it in that exact spot so bad that I get a quarter/half dollar size black /dark purple bruise...just such a odd place...

Is this a weird lupus thing? I haven't mentioned it to any of my doctors because it's just a bruise but I do find it weird...

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